If there is one thing they've come to expect the meeting will go is that Kotaro would engage in a strange event that may or may not have no relation to the topic of the meeting. No matter how weird it is and what lengths Kotaro would go to achieve that, everyone is very much treated to the sight of Franchouchou's crazy producer's little show unimpeded by their opinions and growing displeasure. And even if the latter is true, they just have to get used to it.

The zombies except Tae are reminding themselves of that last part as the sight of Kotaro performing a kabuki act provoking many raised eyebrows from some zombies. With his legs crouched down, feet flat on the ground, head titled to the side, arms spread wide and palms facing forward, Kotaro brings out the best kabuki performance he ever acted. "Aaaaaaaahhhh, my fair laaaaaaadiiiies of Fraaaaaaanchoooouchoooooooou. Ohaaaaaaayoooooooou gozaiiiiiimaaaaaaaasuuuuuuuuuu…"

As everyone gawks in confusion, Tae is seen with her arms raised over her head and legs spread out in an attempt to imitate his kabuki-style act. The producer continues his greeting, kabuki-theater style."Yooooooooou are allreadyyyyyyyy in the preeeseeence of an idoooooooool maaaagiiiis-"

"ENOUGHT ALREADY! Just get started with this meeting!" Saki irritatingly told him after having enough with his kabuki "show". She can speak for the annoyed zombies too like Ai, Lily, Kakyoin, Narancia and Johnny.

Dropping his act, Kotaro stands up straight and, with hands on his hips, announces, "Okay then. Today, I have some great news for you girls. It turns out that Franchouchou deep breath has ｢FAAAAAANS｣!"

The girls are surprised, and delighted, to hear they have fans.

Pacing left and right, Kotaro continues, "The Drive-in Tori commercial and Gatalympics footage have been uploaded online, aaaaaand there's just a little bit of chat about you aaaalllll!"

"There is?" Sakura muttered.

"See, I told you!" Saki is pleased with what she is hearing. "I told you guys Drive Tori was freakin' awesome!"

"Well, good or bad, at least we've got some attention now." Ai offered this fact.

"What're you talking about? This is all because you're gems that sparkle with polish… And that's not all! Our loyal bodyguard group, Rianima, happens to have few fans and some recognition too!"

The zombie guys perk up when hearing it. "We have?" Kakyoin said. He expected he and the boys would garner some attention by being Franchouchou's bodyguards but it happened sooner than later.

"You heard me! While the fans are more interested in the girls, you boys got some attention thanks to your participation in Gatalympics. An article even referred to your group's name, Rianima, and called you seven boys as the flamboyant, tall and intimidating bodyguards recruited by one Kotaro Tatsumi, that is me, to stand guard on Franchouchou's side. Isn't that ｢great｣?"

"I suppose it's something good, but can Franchouchou benefit from our presence?" Bucciarati asked him.

"Oh, you have done quite enough for them! You and the boys have disposed ｢four｣ enemy Stands already which includes the colony Stand yesterday and the mannequin Stand who can perfectly copy anyone the Stand touches! Whether it's for Saga's protection or the girls, I'd say you have done quite enough help and protection for them!"

"You know, I have a feeling our occupations as bodyguards for Franchouchou aren't going to be ignored completely in favor of the girls. Hearing it from you proved my prediction right." Mamezuku nodded as his own guess about catching someone's eye is unavoidable. The percentage he gave was 17 - 31 percent.

"Hahaha, very nicely done!" Kotaro exclaimed more. Bolstered by his own delight, he starts enacting Cocco-san's pose after turning his back. "Drive-in Tori! Like that?" He said with a goofy smile.

"No, that's an incorrect pose! Kakyoin, help me show him the correct pose."

"Huh? W-Wait, Sakura! I didn't-" Cherry Boy tried to stop her as he was pulled.

"It's fine! We're just gonna show him how it's done." Number One assured him, who then began performing the correct way of Cocco-san's pose. "To~ri~! Come on Kakyoin! Do the pose!"

"Err…" He hesitated for a moment, but with a sigh, enacts the pose half-heartedly. "To…ri…"

"Oh, I get it! Like this, right? To~ri~!" Kotaro did a different and silly pose, to Sakura's disapproval.

"No, no! Like this! Tori~!"

"Please pay attention Tatsumi-san. Tori~."

"Right, right. To. Ri." This time, Kotaro pointed his fingers left and right.

"Wrong. See, it's like what Kakyoin and I showed you-"

"IT DOESN'T FREAKING MATTERRRRRRR!"

Kotaro suddenly shouted indignantly, cutting off both zombies. He then proceeds to engage in another one of his loud tirades, causing the two to back away from the approaching producer out of intimidation and rising irritajon. "WHY EXACTLY DO I HAVE TO MASTER THE DANCE?! DON'T LOOK YOUR POINTY NOSES DOWN AT ME JUST BECAUSE YOU TWO GOT A LITTLE BUZZ, YOU PINOCCHIO ZOMBIES!"

"P-Pinocchio…?" stuttered Sakura.

"SOOOOOO…!" He would've finished in the same volume but noticing Kakyoin's glare and well-aware of his known irritation of him… "Sit your pointy noses down!"

The zombies notice he didn't shout in an over the top manner in the end and while surprised, they liked it. As for Kakyoin and Sakura, they two sit back as per Kotaro's command.

Geez. Kakyoin sits down as he tries to clear away the ringing in his ears. Wouldn't it be nice if you didn't engage in another shouting rant again, Tatsumi-san? Tch, good thing you wisely didn't raise your voice near the end. I will retaliate for sure if you continued.

M-My nose isn't like Pinocchio. And pointy too. Sakura thought unhappily, grabbing her nose with pitiable eyes.

"That being the case," what he says next, switching gears from an irate, shouting man to a calm and focused manager of an idol group. "I want you all to start interacting with your fans as soooooooon as possibleeeeeeeee."

"Right away again, huh?" Saki mumbled to her chagrin, still not getting used to him announcing the event they are about to partake in happening sooner than she thought.

"I announced it on the homepage, already!" He retorted.

"Excuse me, when you say interacting with fans…" Junko chimed in.

"Gotta starts with photo ops, I figure." He ignored her as he walked away from them

Turning to Sakura, who is still holding her nose out of protection and is likely gonna answer her question, Junko asks, "Minamoto-san, what exactly does he mean by photo op?"

"Well… There are probably gonna be people with instant cameras, not digital." Sakura imitates taking a photo from a camera with her hands, even closing one eye as if she's focusing on getting a better shot for a picture.

"Digital?" Kakyoin repeated, wondering what kind of camera that is digital.

"Hmm, how do I describe it… It's like, they let you look at the pictures right away instead of waiting for a photo to develop."

"Oh! Like Polaroids."

"Huh? Ah! So it's like that?"

Sakura blinks when the two arrive at a wrong conclusion, all because they are thinking about technology from their time.

"So we are going to be taking glamour shots with Polaroids…" Junko assumed, thinking she got the idea.

"I see. That's what Kotaro meant by photo ops, right Sakura?"

"No… That's not exactly right."

"That's basically it, though."

Surprised by Ai seeing where Junko and Kakyoin are getting at, Sakura asks, "R-Really?"

With everyone's ears on her, Ai explains how the girls are gonna interact with their fans. "Usually there's a mini concert and merchandise sales first."

"Merchandise…" Sakura felt like wincing and heaving a sigh upon being reminded of their merchandise. "It'd be nice if we sold a bunch of T-shirts but…"

"You okay, Yugirin?" Lily addressed the Meiji-era courtesan, concerned if she is finding any of what they are saying confusing at best or incomprehensible at worst. "Are you following all of this?"

"Well, getting confused by what's going on won't help things, so I've decided to just accept things as they come." She calmly replied this, explaining how she isn't at least surprised by the things that came a century after her death. Lily is impressed that she chose to take all of it in stride.

"Camera? Photo? What the hell are they talking about, Johnny?" Gyro asked his close partner, hoping that his answer may help him make sense of their nonsense properly.

"What, you don't know what a camera and photo is?" Johnny raised one eyebrow over his apparent cluelessness.

"Of course, I know. It's just that, considering how so much have changed in a century, even if some of them might be unique in this reality, I'm a bit curious. You are curious, right? Don't you want to know the things that came after a hundred years have passed? I bet you are!"

"…Yeah, I suppose so." Johnny rubs his head.

"I know, right? By the way, all these talk about photos and cameras and whatnot… I have come up with an original gag of mine that I would like everyone to listen to!" Gyro declared, becoming excited to tell a joke after not getting an opportunity to joke for a long time since waking up.

"…Um, what joke is it, Gyro-san?" Sakura hesitantly asked, wondering if she's gonna regret hearing his "joke".

"Have you heard about a man who tried taking a picture of himself only to die suddenly?"

"…Yes?" Kakyoin answered with a skeptical look over finding his joke funny.

"Do you want to know why he died so fast? 'Cause he shot himself! But wanna know how? He was trying to shoot a picture! As in, the camera fired at him like it's a gun! NYOOO-HOHOHOHAHAHAHA! AAAH HAHAHAHAHA!" After revealing the punchline, Gyro bellows out a boisterous laugh that threatens to tip his chair due to finding his "joke" so funny he's laughing his heart out.

As for the others…

"Ah, yes. Shoot a picture, and shooting a gun. What a funny joke you did, Gyro," Johnny wasted no time responding to Gyro's attempt at a joke sarcastically. "I'll be careful when it comes to that. I wouldn't like getting caught and killed while taking a picture of myself!" He "praised" him while seemingly cringing from the (terrible?) punchline.

"Do not try to encourage Gyro. I don't think he can detect your sarcasm." Lily regretted not covering her ears, for she is wincing at Gyro's "joke" too.

"Well, even though I do not find it funny, I can see Gyro-han did his best to come up with such an original joke." Yugiri has no idea how to respond to the joke, so she complimented Gyro's attempt a little.

"Hahaha… Why am I laughing? I don't… I don't find it funny at all." Sakura tried not to chuckle more, as if she liked a terrible joke.

"I-I agree. I wonder if he knows all of us are not laughing at his joke?" Kakyoin stated, eyes sweeping from Kotaro to every zombie bearing grimaced looks from Ai, Junko, Avdol, and Bucciarati or unimpressed ones from Narancia and Saki.

"I've got an even bigger project in the works! So you all better make this photo op a GOOD ONE!" Kotaro closes the meeting by enacting the kabuki act again, ignoring Gyro's attempt at joking while having high expectations of the girls to not mess the fan interaction up and the boys continuing looking after them.

"Hello! We are Franchouchou! Thanks for coming!"

Franchouchou takes a bow for the cheering audience as they finish their mini concert except for Tae, who has her arms raised waving her hands with a dull look on her face. This is seen as an odd act from her but they don't seem to care about it one bit.

Those who are attending among the audience are Okoba and Inubashiri, who made it their priority to attend after hearing Franchouchou would perform a mini concert in Saga Live House Geils. The same venue Franchouchou (when the girls sans Sakura are not yet conscious) first started, and this time they used a different room. The two journalists don't know that since they haven't the necessary amount of info about these girls at the moment.

Also present are Rianima paying attention to the venue before, during and after the performance. After double checking the venue is safe, all that's left for them is to stand guard and keep an eye on the audiences and the girls. ensuring no enemy Stand has infiltrated the venue. So far nothing was amiss so the seven are allowed to relax and enjoy watching the girls' mini concert.

Good job girls. You will gain more fans as you keep up the good work. That goes double for you Sakura. Kakyoin commended them, glancing at Number One the most. He is happy to see her so dedicated to being an idol, singing her voice out and dancing beautifully. Of course, he isn't forgetting Saki, Ai, Junko, Yugiri, Lily and even Tae considering they did a great job but among the girls, he seems to favor Sakura a lot. He doesn't find it weird though, chalking it up because she's the first zombie he met. Also, aside from Junko, Yugiri and Lily, Sakura is the friendliest of the group so that accounts to him becoming friends.

People really showed up. We really got fans now! Sakura thought in disbelief, joyful to see her hard work and cooperation with the girls had come into fruition in the form of fans, whether they are kids or adults. Remembering the second flash of memory she has, she wonders if she can get another memory if she continues attending concerts. Believing being an idol could be the cause of that brief sense of recollection, Sakura hopes she's not gonna wait for long to gain a third flash of memory. She did tell Kakyoin about her memory about watching Ai when she was alive and hear his take or opinion, which he surmised the above method is her only lead. Speaking of Cherry Boy, he only confides in him because he's such a calm and welcoming teenager who has stood by her side ever since that day, having a handsome smile, charming eyes and a nice figure.

Of course, she hasn't forgotten the other bodyguards, it's just that she favors Kakyoin a lot compared to them.

"H-Hey so, after the mini concert…" Saki started, slightly nervous in spite of herself. "There will be a photo op session with Franchouchou today. It's crazy to think y'all came to see us, so uh… Thank you very much!"

After her little speech, everyone starts recognizing Tae as the woman from the Drive-in Tori commercial, with some even calling her Cocco-kun despite Saki's insistence that it's Cocco-san. And then, as if responding to them wanting her to do a rooster crow…

"AAACK! AH DOOODA DOOOOOO!"

For an audience this small, their cheering is pretty loud, who are all doing Cocco-kun's/san's pose and Tae's distinct rooster crow. Franchouchou could only awkwardly stand still as Tae continues doing her chicken act.

"Hahahaha! Can't believe Number Zero is riling the audience by being Cocco-kun!" Narancia laughed, addressing Tae by her codename.

"It's Cocco-san, not Cocco-kun, Li'l Bomber." Avdol corrected, addressing him too by his nickname.

"What are you, Number Two?" He stares back the fortune teller with an annoyed look, clearly displeased of hearing his nickname.

"I'm only telling you the correct pronunciation."

"Sure. That makes you sound like Number Two, alright." Johnny sarcastically stated, merely raising an eyebrow over Tae's action. At the same time, Kakyoin, Bucciarati and Gyro try to keep the memory of being almost bitten by Tae out of their heads when the zombie in disguise starts crowing for the audience.

"We're now going to be selling these original Franchouchou T-shirts and towel. Anyone who purchases either will be eligible for the photo session!"

Kotaro announces to the fans lined up to either get the T-shirt or a towel with a cute figure of Romero and the group's name embroidered on it. Sakura and Ai are standing behind the table together with Kotaro, who continues speaking through a microphone for the eager fans.

Looking at the towels, Sakura wonders, "When did he have those towels made?"

"And what's up with this design?" Ai questioned, staring at the embroidery of Romero with sparkling eyes, puppy smile and a heart held in its paws. Since Romero looks like a zombie all the time, she'd think anyone with common sense would find its appearance creepy and question the nature of their pet dog yet for some reason, no one made a fuss.

After they have purchased the shirts or towels, the photo op session starts as many fans lined up for their desired member of Franchouchou. When the lines are full, someone holds up a cardboard with writings on it that reads, "End of line", which the phrase itself is exactly what it means. The first duo announced to be taken with pictures are Numbers Zero and One (Tae and Sakura) and after that, Numbers Two and Three (Saki and Ai). In the meantime, the bodyguards keep their eyes open and see if there is any foul work involved. Earlier, Kotaro explained to Rianima on how idol fans can be rabid in meeting with their favorite girls. While he doesn't need to worry about that for a moment considering the as-of-yet growing number of fans, he felt the need to inform them just in case. The last thing they need is some fan almost hounding any girls. If it comes to it, they won't hesitate to retaliate.

Without the use of Stand, of course.

Among the crowd of fans waiting in line to meet up with their favorite Franchouchou members, there is one certain man waiting in Sakura's line. Compared to the ordinary appearance of the people lined up, this young looking, tan-skinned man stands out among the crowd for his unkempt but aristocratic and somewhat elegant appearance, making him appear like he came out from the late 18th to early 19th century. He has short messy gray hair with an uneven hairline, gray eyes with prominent eyebags, and slightly short height wearing a gray waistcoat with yellow buttons over a long-sleeved white shirt with pinned cravat and cuffs, and gray trousers tucked into his black boots. A black coat with a tailcoat covers his upper body and rear while a chain necklace with a lapis lazuli gem anchored at the end hangs over his neck.

While some look at the man in wonder, they have business to tend to, so they continue doing what they are here for: meeting their favorite idol member. This is what the man is here for too, choosing to meet Number 1 after purchasing one shirt. After Sakura greets the unexpressive man with a smile, the two pose with peace signs as Kotaro takes their photo. Once he receives the photo, he gives the two a curt nod before making his leave through the crowd. Sakura and Kotaro find him a bit eccentric since he has not spoken a single word to the two, but they are not here to scrutinize his behavior, for there are many fans who want to meet Sakura.

What an odd man. Looked intimidating and creepy too. But I'm sure he's not a bad person. I didn't get any vibe off of him despite that. Sakura thought, finding herself curious of the man. Too curious she realized.

Standing in the sidelines, Junko and Ai watch the photo session go, waiting for their turn. Well, it's more like Ai is waiting for her turn while Junko looks a bit anxious and hesitant. "What… is this?" Junko asked.

"You take pictures with people who line up for you. This is how we 「interact」 with fans." Ai told her matter-of-factly.

"Huh?" Surprised that this is what a photo op is about, Junko could only watch Ai walk as her turn comes up. Looking at the line directed at her, she sees the long line of crowd too much for her. Interacting with fans… up close and personally? But that's not what I did back when I was alive. She internally thought, not liking what she might do. While she is okay performing together as a group for an audience numbering hundreds, having to interact with fans directly is entirely foreign to her.

As the white-haired girl agonized over that fact, the six girls are doing well for the group's first interaction with their fans. Watching over them and the fans are their bodyguards, whose menacing aura and intimidating build strikes a chord of fear onto weak-willed fans. Their flamboyant appearances are not a detriment to it, for their piercing eyes can strike fear in anyone who looks at them oddly. While they try to not appear threatening to the fans, some of them are fearful of them regardless.

Standing next to the lanky metalhead, Ai flashes a cute smile and raises two peace signs as Kotaro takes their picture.

ピカット

A bright flash appeared from the camera, taking the picture but for some reason, Ai swiftly shut her eyes out of fright. Opening them back, Ai wondered what just happened. That bright flash… It feels terrifyingly familiar…

What… What was that…? She only has this to think.

After the designated girls are done, it's Junko's, Yugiri's and Lily's turn. As Number Five is instructed to take a picture using a folding screen as background, Number Four, overwhelmed by what she's witnessing, chooses to bail and sit away with her head down. Sakura and Ai approach her after catching her in the sidelines, unaware of her inner turmoil. "Junko-chan! It's your turn now!" Sakura announced.

"I can't… I can't do this…" Junko declined, surprising them.

"What are you talking about? Come on, stop moping!" Not keen on her sudden decision, Ai reaches to pull her hand, but Junko snatches her hand away with a shout of "No!" before facing her back to the two.

Becoming confused and disgruntled, Ai frowned before telling her, "You've got the most people in your line! Don't you see that?"

"Being an idol is about dazzling people from up on a stage!" Junko glanced back and retorted with a glare. "How is this anything like that!?"

She didn't dare lower her volume when she voiced her displeasure of what she was seeing so it's no surprise her little quarrel with Ai got everyone's attention. The fans are wondering what's going on between the two, including the two reporters, as Kotaro looks at them blankly just as he was about to picture Yugiri and a fan.

Looking at the two staring each other down with Sakura on the side trying to pacify their bickering, Gyro blinks twice in confusion, asking, "What's going on? Why are Junko and Ai arguing?"

"I'm… not sure," uncertainly replied Bucciarati. "Though from what I heard, it must be related to interacting with fans and Number Four appears to be against it."

"No surprise there," spoke up Mamezuku. "I only need to take a look at her behavior once and remember how Meiji era idols used to work, and I can tell she may not like this."

"Uhhh, what now? Should we interfere?" Narancia proposed, turning between her companions and the two idols.

"Kotaro seems to be already working on it. However, it's not anything positive. I can tell from his look." Kakyoin pointed to him announcing to the fans that the meeting is abruptly cancelled due to Ai and Junko's disagreement. He can see that the manager is not happy of his decision and the reason behind such an outcome.

Knowing him, he's going to rip the girls, especially the two, a new one when they go home.

"What the hell was THAAAAAAT?!"

As expected, Kotaro didn't spare any second scolding the girls the moment they were in the basement, pacing left and right.

"I am sooooo disappointed in you all! Y'know how disappointed I am!? If I had to give a metaphor, it's like… Y'know… You…! Dumbasses! AGH!" After failing to come up with a metaphor due to irritation, Kotaro leaves them be.

Turning at the door after he left, the zombies are left reeling because they have never seen Kotaro so angry and disappointed. His shouting tendencies and pompous attitude may have combined to make the chiding he gave the girls an effective undressing of their actions. It seems he doesn't care who he is shouting at, equally chastising them regardless of their involvement in the cause of cancellation. As much as the boys want to stop Kotaro, they reluctantly let him scold the girls while they are standing off to the side under Bucciarati's insistence, stating that this is Franchouchou's problem, not theirs.

No one said anything for a moment before Ai opened her mouth. "…You understood what you've done right Junko? Running out on a job doesn't just affect 「you」."

"That's part of the job?" Junko asked, still not getting over the concept of fan interaction.

"A 「big」 part of it."

Everyone keeps quiet, seeing this is something Ai and Junko need to talk about. Maybe they could make up?

"But it was so brazen. I don't want to do it."

"Listen. We need people to learn who we are so we can then feel like we're within 「their reach」."

"But that's what I'm having a problem about!" She exclaimed. "And when you bragged about being so successful after only one year, do people really think they can just placate the fans instead of paying their dues?" She brought up her words from last night and interpret it in her view.

"Huh!?" Ai is taken aback. Now glaring at her, she has this to say to the Showa Idol. "When did I ever say that? Are you trying to start something?"

"Come on you two, knock it off." Saki began interfering when she senses another quarrel is gonna start.

"Ai-chan, Junko-chan." Sakura is with Saki, trying to pacify the conflict before it gets worse.

Even Rianima are unable to look away from this as they start surrounding the two in a semi-circle, with Kakyoin, Avdol and Bucciarati attempting to stop them from arguing more.

"I'm just saying we need to think about what our 「relationship」 with our fans is." Junko does not stop as she continues voicing what she felt is a problem behind the current way of idols interacting with their fans.

"You're the one who 「doesn't」 seem to understand what that relationship is." Ai insinuated, realizing she is adamant on the old ways of how an idol must present themselves to their fans and heavily disagreeing with it.

"W-What should we do!? What should we do!?" A panicking Sakura blurts out.

"C-Come on, you two! We don't need to escalate things here. Maybe we can-"

"We might both talk about 'being supported by fans', Mizuno-san," Junko cuts off Avdol. "But I think we mean something totally different! An idol 「shouldn't be independent」 on the good will of fans!"

Getting riled up, Ai stands up, doubling down on her glaring as she tells her this hard fact over how so many things had changed over the yeats. "That sort of above-it-all pride is ｢too old-fashioned｣!"

"You're ｢not exactly current｣ yourself, you know!" Junko remained seated, literally and metaphorically, while staring at her back with a fierce look. Ai doesn't like what she said and she growls, making it look like a quarrel is imminent.

"Please stop!"

"You two, enough!"

Lily's and Bucciarati's pleading and stern words are what stopped the escalation between clashing ideologies embodied by Junko and Ai. Whether Lily's begging or Bucciarati's blaring command stopped their words momentarily, the two are not seeing eye-to-eye, if Ai giving this statement is any indication. "If we're going to be serious about being idols, then thinking like that is going to be a problem."

Shaken up by her words or having enough of it for her own good, Junko quickly leaves.

"…Hey, don't ya think that's going overboard?" Saki reprimanded her gently. She may not still get this idol business down yet but as a leader, it's her job to hear what her team has to say and has the right to rebuke someone who's out of the line.

Keeping quiet after all that, Ai takes her leave too against Saki's urging.

A few seconds of silence pass by before it's broken by Johnny's words. "Now what?"

Aw man. Is this really happening…? Sakura thought gloomily. Franchouchou would be affected greatly for sure if the two are not on good terms. She has to get all her memories back if she wants to remember what she is before she died. The group's existence depends on it.

Everyone didn't need to answer Johnny's question as they already know what to do: calm Ai and Junko down and, hopefully, solve their clashing ideologies without any more altercation.

To be continued

Onomatopoeia:

ピカット (Pikatto) - Camera flash